Focus is something of a novelty these days. We've got cellphones for texting and calls, IM, Twitter, Email, RSS feeds, Facebook, Myspace...the list goes on and on. If you don't have ADD before you start working online, it seems it's almost inevitable¹ thanks to these inputs². If you're a web worker who uses the Internet for the majority of the day, you're especially at risk for losing focus.

注意力如今成了新鲜物。我们有手机来发短信、打电话，有即时聊天工具、博客、电子邮件、RSS订阅、Facebook、Myspace......不胜枚举。如果上网工作前你没有注意力缺陷(attention deficit³ disorder)，那么因为上面那些东西，你也将会不可避免地患上这种病。如果你是一位网络工作者，一天大部分时间都使用互联网，那么注意力不集中的可能性更大。

Focus is something that must be fought for. It's not something that automatically switches on when you want to. You have to make sure your surroundings are perfect for working if you want to be focused. Here's a few ways I've found this to work:

注意力是需要争取的。它不会在你想要的时候自动开启。如果你想让自己注意力集中，那就需要一个良好的工作环境。下面是我发现的有帮助的一些方法：

1. Use offline tools. 使用非网络工具。

Paper products, pens, and other physical tools are a Godsend for those of us who have a hard time focusing throughout the work day. They're so simple that we can use them quickly, without having to worry about becoming distracted.

纸质品、笔和其它有实体的工具对工作中集中注意力困难的人们来说简直是上天赐与的礼物。它们简单、随手可得，不会导致分心。

2. Take more breaks. 多休息。

More breaks = More productivity. It may sound wrong, but it's true. Breaks allow us to re-group our thoughts and focus for the task at hand. They also keep us fresh so that we don't end up burning out after only a few hours work.

更多休息=更多生产力。听上去不是那样，可其实是对的。休息让我们理清思路，对手边的工作重新集中思想。还能让我们保持良好精神状态，不会只工作了几小时后就累趴下。

3. Smaller tasks to check off. 先完成小任务。

When you're planning your day, make sure that your "action steps" (aka items in the checklist) are small actions. Instead of "Paint living room", try breaking it down into many tasks, like "buy paint, buy rollers, pick colors", etc.

在计划一天的工作时，让你的“工作步骤”（也就是清单上的项目）成为一个个小的行动。不要写“给客厅刷漆”，试着将它分解为许多小任务，例如“买油漆，买滚筒刷，挑选颜色”等等。

4. Keep a steady pace. 保持一定节奏。

Don't try to do too much. Keeping the pace manageable allows you to keep your focus. Unfortunately, people can confuse this with "Work till you drop without breaks". See number 2.

不要尝试一次做太多。将节奏控制在可操作的范围内可以让你集中注意力。不幸地是人们会将这条原则等同于“没有休息地一直工作到死”。请见第二条。

5. Keep a daily "purpose" card. 每天做 “目的”卡片。

It's pretty easy to get lost staring at the computer all day long. We'll find rabbit holes to wonder down (ie. Youtube, Myspace, etc.) if we're not careful. Having your daily purpose card gives you clarity and a reminder⁴ as to what you're doing today.

人们很容易茫然地盯着屏幕就是一整天。不小心的话就会进入一个个神奇世界（例如Youtube，Myspace等等）。有了当天的“目的”卡片，你就能清楚自己的任务，卡片可以随时提醒你。

6. Develop the mindset that the computer is only a tool. 养成“计算机只是工具”的心态。

It's easy to try and use the computer for too much. At its core, the computer is merely a tool (albeit a freakin' awesome⁵ one) that allows to do work more efficiently⁶. If we're using it as something more than that, (like as a solution for your life), you'll ultimately fail. It's like trying to eat a steak dinner with only a spoon.

人们很容易用电脑过度。从本质上说，计算机只是一个工具而已（尽管强大地惊人），它让人们更有效地工作。如果你不只把它做为一个工具，（例如把它作为生活的答案)，那么最终你会失败，就好像只用一个勺子来吃一顿牛排晚餐。

7. Plan your day to the T. 计划到细节。

If you're finding sporadic⁷ periods of laziness throughout the day, it could be because you don't take enough breaks (see #2), and you don't have the day mapped out as efficiently as you could. Make sure your list of todos has lots of small, actionable steps that can be done quickly. This will gives a really satisfying feeling when you're crossing things off your list like crazy.

如果一天中你会不定时地偷懒，那也许是因为你没有获得足够的休息(见第二条），而且你也没有最有效地安排时间。保证你的计划清单由许多小而易行、能迅速完成的步骤组成。在你疯狂地勾去清单上的事务时，这会给你带来真正的满足感。

8. Notice your lazy routines. 注意懒惰规律。

Everyone has recurring⁸ lazy spots throughout the day. Plan to have your breaks for those times. You're going to be lazy then anyway, right?

每个人在一天中都会有反复出现的懒惰时刻。用这些时间安排休息，反正到时也会犯懒，对吗?